Vermont Nurse Practitioner Programs
Nursing professionals are a core part of the health care industry in Vermont. As a registered nurse, you have likely contributed greatly to the health of your community and the strength of your health care employer. By becoming a nurse practitioner and earning a master’s degree, you can expand your scope of practice and take more of a leadership role in the care of your patients. Find out what nurse practitioner programs in Vermont expect of their students by contacting the schools you see on our site today.
Becoming a nurse practitioner may allow you to work in a variety of settings. Recently, a new primary care center in Barre opened, allowing for the employment of many nurse practitioners.
Vermont is one of several states that allows nurse practitioners to enjoy full freedom of practice. In fact, the state’s transition to free practice for NPs has been used as a model for other states that hope to increase the role of nurse practitioners.
As Vermont has increased the role of nurse practitioners in health care, residents have found it easier to get the primary care they need. A new clinic is trying to explore a new practice model in which nurse practitioners provide the vast majority of care to patients.
Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum in Vermont
When you decide to become a nurse practitioner, you may choose to earn a master’s degree in nursing or a doctoral degree in nursing. If you want to work full-time as a nurse while earning your degree, you may be able to graduate in four to six years as a part-time student. Full-time students can often graduate in two to three years.
In the early stages of your education, you take core classes that schools may require of all graduate nursing students. These courses often include Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Neuropharmacology. Courses that are specific to nurse practitioners include Primary Care Management of Children & Adolescents, Primary Care Management of Acute & Common Conditions, Primary Care Management of the Care of Women, and Care Concepts for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
By learning how to work with different populations and health care problems, you can perform more competently in your clinical hours. You should complete no fewer than 600 hours of clinical work by the time you graduate.
After you have chosen a nurse practitioner program in Vermont, you can apply for scholarships and grants. Through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, you can apply for scholarships and student loan programs. The Vermont Department of Health funds scholarships for nursing professionals that are willing to work in medically underserved areas.
Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Vermont
Once you have successfully graduated from a nurse practitioner program in Vermont, you can finish the process of getting your nurse practitioner license. The Vermont Board of Nursing administers advanced practice nursing exams. With advanced standing on your license, you can work as a nurse practitioner. You must also obtain the proper insurance for your new job title. Professional liability insurance protects you in the event of an accident or mistake, and it’s an employment requirement for clinical employers across Vermont.
Vermont nurse practitioners report a wide range of salaries. According to O*Net, the average salary for a nurse practitioner is $88,900 per year. The highest paid nurse practitioners in Vermont earn more than $114,200 per year (O*Net, 2013).
If it’s time to find out what an advanced degree can do for you, find out more about nurse practitioner schools in Vermont by requesting additional information directly from our site.